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Sengol, the symbol of the transfer of power from the British, was displayed as Nehru’s ‘golden walking stick’ at Anand Bhawan in Prayagraj

Jhankar Mohta
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Sengol, the symbol of the transfer of power from the British, was displayed as Nehru’s ‘golden walking stick’ at Anand Bhawan in Prayagraj

The historic sceptre ‘Sengol’ is set to take pride of place in India’s new parliament building. The Chola-inspired sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker in the new parliament building which will be dedicated to the nation by PM Narendra Modi on May 28, 2023.

Addressing a press conference today in Delhi, home minister Amit Shah said that the ‘Sengol,’ which is from the Chola dynasty, will be introduced as a ‘significant historical’ symbol of Independence, as it was a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to Indians.

Sengol is a Tamil world, which means full of wealth. “This Sengol has huge significance. When PM Modi got to know about this, he asked to get more info on this,” Amit Shah said. He added, “August 14, 1945, around 10:45 Nehru accepted this Sengol from the people of Tamil Nadu. It is a sign of a shift of power from Britishers to the people of this country.”

Reportedly, when the British handed over power to Indians in 1947, the momentous occasion was symbolised by the handing over of a Sengol (sceptre) to the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru by the last Viceroy Lord Mountbatten through Hindu saints from Tamil Nadu.

But what happened to the sceptre in the intervening years?

Mislabelling of the ‘Sengol’ as Nehru’s “golden walking stick” and its revival due to PM Modi

The Sengol, a testament to India’s emergence as a new, sovereign independent nation, had languished in a nondescript museum in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh for nearly seven decades. The display box’s description tag read, “Golden walking stick given to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.”

Sengol displayed in a museum in Prayagraj (Source: Twitter user Himanshu Jain)
Source: India Today

The five feet long sceptre of the ‘Sengol’ was retrieved from the Allahabad Museum after a one-minute video by Chennai-based Vummudi Bangaru Jewellers (VBJ) reportedly caught PM Narendra Modi’s attention.

“It had been lying there for decades, mislabelled as Nehru’s ‘golden walking stick’. We were not aware of the ‘sengol’ story until we read about it in a magazine in 2018. We found it in the museum in 2019 and planned a press conference with Allahabad Museum officials,” said VBJ managing director Amarendran Vummudi. “That did not happen because of the pandemic. So, we made a video. It caught the attention of PM Modi,” Amarendran said.

The ‘sengol’ had been forgotten by the Vummudi family. Bangaru Chetty, who created the ‘sengol’ out of more than 100 sovereigns of gold and charged the government roughly Rs 15,000, died. His son Vummudi Ethiraj, who was 22 at the time of independence, had vague memories of Madras Presidency VVIPs visiting their shop to inspect the ‘sengol’ before it was packed and shipped to Delhi.

“He told us they took less than a month to make it. But he did not know what it was made of or how it looked,” Amarendran added.

The jeweller’s marketing head Arun Kumar found it at the Allahabad Museum. “It was displayed along with a miniature brass cannon and a multi-component storage box within a glass box. The description tag in the display box read: ‘Golden walking stick gifted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’,” he said. However, he recognised the sceptre which had Goddess Lakshmi surrounded by flowers on the orb and a Rishabha (sacred bull) atop it.

Later, when a team appointed by the PMO, comprising journalist S Gurumurthy, contacted the Vummudi group, a documentary with input from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), historians, and Shaivite mutt leaders from Tamil Nadu was made by filmmaker Priyadarshan and National Award-winning production designer Sabu Cyril.

“We recreated a replica of the sengol,” Amarendran said, adding that the piece is kept in his office.

Less than a month ago, the IGNCA officials approached Vummudi Bangaru Jewellers and tasked them with creating a copy of the gold sengol (sceptre). Vummudi had to create a copy of the gold sceptre on a silver sheet this time. Later, it was gold-plated. The silver sceptre will be used for public exhibition, while the original will be retained in Parliament indefinitely.

“We were given just eight days. We had three teams of artists working day and night,” he said. The gold-plated sceptre was handed over to officials at Chennai Airport and flown in a separate seat to Delhi.

Source: Twitter

The lesser-known facts about the Chola-Inspired Sceptre

The sceptre known as ‘sengol’, derived from the Tamil word for righteousness, was received by Nehru to represent the transfer of power from the British. It was later moved to a museum in Allahabad (today’s Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. For all these years, the historic sceptre was regarded as Nehru’s “golden walking stick”.

Sengol, as few people know, was the brainchild of India’s last Governor General C Rajagopalachari, whom Nehru met after Lord Mountbatten asked how India’s freedom could be symbolised. He studied multiple historic books and informed Jawaharlal Nehru about the Sengol. Rajaji relied on a Chola-era practise in which the state’s high priest would give the new king a sceptre upon assuming power.

After Nehru agreed to the suggestion, Rajaji contacted the Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam, a 14th-century Saivite mutt in the Mayiladuthurai district town of Thiruvaduthurai. The mutt’s seer arranged for the sceptre. Prominent Chennai jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty was handed over the task to create the sceptre, topped with a statue of Nandi, the bull vahana of Lord Shiva.

Source: TNIE

On the eve of India’s independence, the Sengol was specifically flown to Delhi, with the deputy pontiff of the mutt Kumaraswamy Thambiran Swamigal initiating the transfer of power. The Sengol was sanctified with holy water minutes before the clock struck 00:00, and verses from the Thirumurais’ Kolaru Padhigam (a collection of poetry honouring Hindu God Shiva) were chanted. Swamigal gave the sceptre to Nehru, completing the transfer of power.

This high-profile historical event was, however, kept under wraps. The historic Sengol vanished after the event because it was housed in a museum. Worse, the sacred totemic Sengol, which represents authority and justice, became known as Nehru’s “golden walking stick.” Thanks to the Nehruvian ecosystem and succeeding Congress governments, the general people eventually forgot about it, and it ended up languishing in a mundane museum as Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Golden Walking Stick” for over 7 decades.

Today, thanks to the Modi government’s efforts, this Sengol has been restored to new life and will be installed in India’s new temple of democracy, majestically near the Speaker’s chair.

More about Sengol can be read on this website.

‘False allegations’ of sexual harassment on Brij Bhushan Singh, ‘Involvement in Modi teri kabar khudegi’ slogans: Plea claims before Delhi Court

OpIndia Staff
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‘False allegations’ of sexual harassment on Brij Bhushan Singh, ‘Involvement in Modi teri kabar khudegi’ slogans: Plea claims before Delhi Court

Amidst the ongoing wrestlers’ protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, a social activist and chief of Atal Jan Shakti Party, Bam Bam Maharaj Nauhatiya has lodged a criminal complaint in a Delhi Court against wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik for pressing “false allegations” of sexual harassment on Brij Bhushan Singh and also for involvement in delivering a hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The matter will be heard today (May 25) by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Patiala House Court, Delhi. 

According to the plea filed by Bam Bam Maharaj Nauhatiya, a social activist and National Chief of the Atal Jan Shakti Party, the claims made by the accused persons against Brij Bhushan Singh are “false” and are linked in a direct or indirect way, by any “influence or personal gain.”

Nauhatiya’s complaint filed through his counsel Dr AP Singh stated that none of the accused wrestlers are physically weak to be unable to oppose the alleged offence. “The Accused persons are well-known wrestlers who also play international tournaments and any one of them is not physically weak or poor to oppose the alleged offence. So, it is hard to believe that they were harassed by a 66-year-old man—Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh,” the complaint read.

The plea further states that none of the protesting wrestlers protested or lodged a police complaint, or notified the Women Helpline or the State Women Commission, Ministry of Women Welfare, Indian Olympic Association, etc against Singh over the alleged harassment. 

The plea also argues that Brijbhushan Sharan Singh’s character had been assassinated as a result of false accusations and actions taken by the accused wrestlers at the protest site.

Furthermore, it has been alleged that the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was just aimed to exert unnecessary pressure on the Police and the Court in order to obtain the desired actions.

“According to the telecast news on National news Channels, MODI TERI KABRA KUDEGI, the slogan was raised openly at the Jantar Mantar protest organised by the wrestlers, which falls under the category of Hate Speech, and it is clear that the protestors threatened to kill Narendra Modi,” the plea contended.

“Hate Speech is a crime in law and a serious offence according to the latest precedents set by the Supreme Court of India,” the petition stated.

It is pertinent to recall that on 28th April 2023, ‘Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi’ slogans were raised at the wrestlers’ protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. These slogans were being raised in the presence of several wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat etc 

Rajasthan: Bhagwan Parshuram Yatra organized by Hindus in Kaman halted midway after stone pelting by people of a ‘specific community’, some detained

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Bhagwan Parshuram Yatra organized by Hindus in Kaman halted midway after stone pelting by people of a ‘specific community’, some detained

On Wednesday, Bhagwan Prshuram Yatra organized by Hindus in the Jurhera village of Kaman, Rajasthan was attacked by some persons from a specific community who pelted stones at the participants, leaving them injured.

According to an ETV Bharat report, the Yatra was organized on a massive scale on the afternoon of May 24. Amid the yatra, some of the shopkeepers from the specific community opposed the loud sound of the DJ system. The Hindu participants assured to reduce the volume of the DJ. In spite of this, the shopkeepers called some more people from their community and complained about the Yatra.

The mob belonging to the specific community then pelted stones at the Yatra and also used lathis to stop the Hindus from dancing to the DJ music. It is also alleged that a police constable named Shaheed provided the attackers with sticks, instead of trying to calm the situation.

The Hindus eventually stopped the Yatra and called the police. They also demanded strict action against the accused persons. The police took cognizance of the incident and assured the detention of the accused persons. The Yatra was then officially concluded.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghawal also commented on the issue and slammed the ruling party in the state for favouring and boosting the specific community for votes. He also indicated that the Congress party was torturing the Hindu society in the state of Rajasthan.

Tensions continue to prevail in the Juraher village after the incident. Additional SP Himmat Singh, DSP Pradeep Yadav, Kaman Police Station Officer Ramkrishna Yadav, Gopalgarh Police Station Officer Ramnaresh along with some other police personnel have been deployed at the spot. Reports mention that some of the people have also been taken into custody and are being interrogated in the case.

“During the Shobha Yatra, there was a dispute due to misunderstanding between the two parties. After reaching the spot, the police persuaded the people and got the Shobha Yatra completed. Some people have also been detained from the spot. Sector’s Police personnel has been posted in Jurhara town,” Pradeep Yadav, DSP Kaman confirmed.

It is also believed that the Hindu Brahmin community who had organized the Yatra held a meeting after the incident and has planned to file an official complaint against the accused. The injured persons were immediately shifted to the hospital and are attaining proper treatment.

As LIC reports 447.5% growth in Q4 consolidated PAT, read how Rahul Gandhi and ‘journalists’ had accused the Modi govt of ‘killing’ India’s largest insurer

OpIndia Staff
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As LIC reports 447.5% growth in Q4 consolidated PAT, read how Rahul Gandhi and ‘journalists’ had accused the Modi govt of ‘killing’ India’s largest insurer

On May 24, India’s largest life insurer LIC reported an impressive growth for the fourth quarter of Financial Year 2022-23. The Consolidated Profit After Taxes (PAT) of LIC stood at an impressive Rs 13,190.79 crores. The company has seen a 5.5 folds year-on-year rise of 447.47%. Notably, for the financial year 2021-22’s fourth quarter, LIC’s PAT was only Rs 2,409.39 crores. The company’s growth for Q4 was 107.77%.

The company earned a consolidated net premium income of Rs 1,32,233.21 crores. It has come down by 8.27% compared to Q4 of the previous year which was Rs 1,44,158.84 crores. However, compared to Q3 of FY 2022-23, the company saw a growth of 17.7%. The net premium income of the company has declined by 8.34% on a year-on-year basis but rose by 17.87% on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

On the sidelines of the impressive performance by the company, the board of directors have recommended a dividend of Rs 3 per equity share for the FY 2022-23. Chairperson of LIC Siddhartha Mohanty said, “Our results demonstrate the resilience of our business, built in every nook and corner of the country, over a period of more than six decades. Our efforts towards enhancing the share of non-par products in the overall product mix are bearing fruits.”

In FY 2021-22, the company’s profit was Rs 4,043.12 crores. It has increased to Rs 35,397.40 crores in FY 2022-23. Furthermore, the Value of New Business on the gross bases of the company has increased from Rs 9,920 crores in FY 2021-22 to Rs 11,553 crores in FY 2022-23.

Speaking on the increased profits, Mohanty said, “We are well positioned to continue our growth journey, in the service of the nation and its citizens. The regulatory initiatives towards Insurance for All by 2047 will present opportunities to grow for the sector and we intend to participate in that growth. As we move forward to grow our business further, we will endeavour to create superior value for all our stakeholders. Finally, we thank all our policyholders, agents, employees and shareholders for maintaining their faith in us.”

The current price of LIC shares on BSE is Rs 607.75 per share.

The share price dropped after the Hindenburg report

It is pertinent to note that LIC’s price has seen ups and down since it was listed on May 20, 2022. The base price started at Rs 826.15 and plunged to its lowest at Rs 534.35 on March 31, 2023. It reached its lowest point before that in 2022 on October 21, 2022, at Rs 589.20. Since March 31 this year, the price has been rising persistently.

On January 24, 2023, Hindenburg Research, a short-selling company that pose as a whistleblower to gain profits, published a report against Adani Group alleging the company was manipulating its share prices. As LIC holds a substantial amount of shares of Adani Group in its portfolio, the Indian public sector insurer faced a direct impact. From Rs 712.80 per share, the price drastically dropped and kept touching lower points till March 31 this year.

On May 18, it was reported that there was a 35% drop in the market capitalisation of LIC. In May 2022, it was Rs 5.48 crore which dropped to Rs 3.59 crore in May 2023. Congress leader and disqualified MP Rahul Gandhi used the opportunity to gain some brownie points.

Opposition, journalists and liberals attack Modi govt over alleged LIC losses

For Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi became the frontrunner to attack the Modi government over LIC market share and its holdings in Adani Group since the Hindenburg report came. Other opposition leaders, journalists and liberals joined the crusade.

In March 2023, Rahul Gandhi released an influencer-style video claiming that the investors were losing around Rs 1,000 crore every day as LIC had invested in Adani Group shares. He questioned who pressured LIC-SBI to invest in the Adani Group.

In the same month, Congress coined the term “Modani” to target the Modi government and claimed that the money from LIC, SBI and EPFO was transferred to the Adani Group.

In January 2023, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the Modi government by stating LIC shares plunged after the Hindenburg report and the investors lost Rs 22,442 crores in two days. He said, “Modi Govt changes its name to LOOT INVESTMENT for CRONIES!”

Congress Secretary Randeep Surjewala said, “LIC is public money! Post Hindenburg Report, the value of LIC investment in Adani Group shares have fallen from ₹77,000 Crore to ₹53,000 crores — loss of ₹23,500 crores.”

In February 2023, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said, “Poora kuppa kar diye” as we say in Hyderabad. LIC is putting the common man’s savings at risk; all for the sake of one man’s friendship. @PMOIndia’s motto seems to be “profit before people”.”

In a letter to PM, AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed, “Adani’s mountain of lies and fraud is crumbling like a pack of cards. Crores of investors in the country are worried. Those who have invested in LIC, and SBI because both of them have given loans worth crores of rupees. The Prime Minister should come forward and address the issue.”

In April, AAP targeted the government by saying LIC lost Rs 60,000 crores by investing in Adani Group companies. Singh gave notice to Rajya Sabha for discussion claiming crores of investors were lost as LIC and SBI invested in Adani group.

BRS leader Prof Dasoju Srravan said, “Just for the sake of one crony capitalist (#Adani), #Modi Govt is destroying #LIC affecting crores of its policyholders.. How come such a steep fall of market value from Rs 5.48 Lakh to Rs 3.59 Lakh Cr wiping away an amount of Rs 1.9 Lakh Cr within an year?” (sic)

Journalist Ravish Kumar questioned if LIC was safe and insinuated as if the investors’ money would be lost. Interestingly, LIC’s exposure in the Adani Group is 0.975 per cent at book value, as per The Hindu Businessline report from March 2023.

The Hindenburg report definitely affected the share price of LIC. However, its price was already fluctuating a lot since it was issued in May 2023. The company’s share is recovering since FY 2023-24 started. Since LIC release its Q4 report, the price has seen a jump of 2.06% by the time this report was published.

Gautam Adani back among world’s top 20 billionaires, net worth climbs to $64.2 billion, adds $4.38 billion to personal wealth in one day

OpIndia Staff
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Gautam Adani back among world’s top 20 billionaires, net worth climbs to $64.2 billion, adds $4.38 billion to personal wealth in one day

Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, has re-entered the top 20 Bloomberg list of the world’s billionaires. He now holds the 18th position in the Bloomberg Billionaires’ Index and has a net worth of $64.2 billion. Adani’s net worth increased by $4.38 billion in a day due to an increase in Adani Group stock prices.

The stocks of the Adani Group shot up on Tuesday, May 23, after its most recent investor, GQG Partners, increased its holdings in the group by almost 10%. In March of this year, they acquired a share in Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Adani Green Energy, and Adani Transmission for a total of Rs 15,446.35 crore. Tuesday’s intraday transaction witnessed a 65 percent increase in this investment’s value to Rs 25,515.50.

Rajiv Jain, the owner of GQG Partners, praised Adani Group shares as “the best infrastructure assets available in India” in a Bloomberg interview.

After Hindenburg Research’s report on the Adani group and its founder, Gautam Adani’s net worth significantly dropped, and he dropped off the top 20 list on February 3. Gautam Adani, who had a net worth of $154 billion in September 2022 and was once the second-richest person in the world, has lost $56.4 billion since the year’s beginning.

Following the publication of the Hindenburg report, the group withdrew its follow-on public offer (FPO) for Rs 20,000 crore and took action to ease concerns about debt-related issues.

After the Justice AM Sapre committee report suggested that it was not possible to conclude that there had been a regulatory failure when it comes to Adani stocks, the market capitalization of Adani Group surpassed the Rs 10 lakh crore mark earlier this week.

Their market capitalization increased from Rs 9,34,485 crore on Friday’s close to Rs 10,03,861 crore in Monday’s action. This is still 48% below their M-cap of Rs. 19.20 lakh crore on January 24, the day the Hindenburg report was released.

Increase in Adani share price

Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners increased their holdings in Adani Enterprises by 10% on Tuesday and declared their intention to continue contributing to future fundraising attempts for the ports-to-power business. The holding company’s stock price increased 19% on the same day.

The bullish trend spread to other Adani group firms, resulting in significant price increases for their stocks. Notably, after the publication of the report, Adani Ports became the first company in the group to recover all of its losses.

Hindenburg Research report

Hindenburg Research, a short seller located in the US, charged Adani Group with engaging in stock manipulation and accounting fraud at its companies. A report titled “Adani Group: How The World’s Third Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History” was released by Hindenburg Research on January 24.

It alleged that Gautam Adani and his brothers had engaged in stock manipulation, controlled several offshore shell firms, and taken a short position in the Adani Group firms using derivatives traded outside of India and US-listed bonds.

The research claimed that due to exorbitant valuations, its seven most important listed firms had an 85% downside purely on a fundamental premise.

“Key listed Adani companies have also taken on substantial debt, including pledging shares of their inflated stock for loans, putting the entire group on precarious financial footing. 5 of 7 key listed companies have reported ‘current ratios’ below 1, indicating near-term liquidity pressure,” the research charged.

As per the Hidenberg study, 8 of the 22 crucial positions are filled by members of Gautam Adani’s family. The conglomerate has, however, refuted every charge.

South Africa ANC Gen Sec exposes BBC hypocrisy, says will welcome Putin as no head of state can just be arrested anywhere: All you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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South Africa ANC Gen Sec exposes BBC hypocrisy, says will welcome Putin as no head of state can just be arrested anywhere: All you need to know

On Wednesday, the UK-based British Broadcasting Corporation’s journalist, Stephen Sackur was roasted by a top official in South Africa’s ruling party, Fikile Mbalula over the issue of war crimes committed by Britain and other Western nations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also indicated and exposed the hypocrisy of the organization and the country when asked about the arrest warrant of Russian President Putin after the Russia-Ukraine war.

The saga began as African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula in an exclusive interview with the BBC stated that he would want Putin to visit Africa and that the country would welcome him as part and parcel of BRICS. The remarks by the African leader about Putin were made in relation to the Russian president visiting a BRICS conference in South Africa in August. Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa make up the group.

“If it was according to the ANC, we would want President Putin to be here, even tomorrow, to come to our country. We will welcome him to come here as part and parcel of BRICS,” the leader said.

On this the journalist questioned the leader saying, “You would? You will welcome President Putin here? Right now? A man who is being investigated for war crimes by the International community?” The leader then nodded in affirmation and reiterated that the country will welcome him as a part and parcel of BRICS. He also said that though the country was constrained by the International Criminal Court treaty, a head of the state cannot be arrested anywhere.

South Africa is required to imprison Putin if he arrives in the nation since it has signed the International Criminal Court pact. Even while it hasn’t stated it clearly, the South African government has hinted that it won’t execute the arrest order if Putin attends the conference.

“Do you think that a head of state can just be arrested anywhere?” Mbalula cross-questioned the journalist and slammed the country and the media organization for being a hypocrite. Britain and other Western nations committed crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and no heads of state were arrested, he stated.

He continued slamming the United Kingdom as he said, “You are making a lot of noise about putting a state in working for peace between Ukraine and Russia and you yourself have failed to resolve the war. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair went to Iraq and claimed that they are weapons of mass destruction. Do you see anybody standing against the United Kingdom or Britain? More than millions of people have died in Iraq and Afghanistan and there are no weapons of mass destruction.”

The ANC leader further said that South Africa is well aware what the war between Ukraine and Russia is actually about and that the country demands peace. “We want peace and only that can help the world survive,” he countered ultimately leaving the BBC journalist red faced.

Notably, Mbalula last month referred to the United States as one of the countries ‘messing up the world.’ Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the country’s insistence that it is taking a neutral stance in the conflict has raised the worries of the western world.

South Africa and Russia have a long history of cooperation given the former Soviet Union’s political and military backing for the ANC when it was a liberation entity striving to overthrow the racist apartheid state that oppressed the country’s Black population. 

South Africa has also played and continues to play a major role in the economic development of Africa and it is an influential democracy in the developing world. The US and other Western allies of South Africa therefore are concerned that the ANC’s historical ideological links to Russia are currently bringing South Africa into Moscow’s political sphere. Notably, Africa, and China are also developing commercial connections.

Recently, the South African government came under increased fire on Wednesday for its decision to withhold cargo records pertaining to a Russian ship’s visit, which the US claims was used to gather a shipment of weapons for Moscow. The government has absolutely denied engaging in any weaponry trade with Russia, but it hasn’t ruled out the idea that someone else did so covertly. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, has mandated an investigation in the case.

Surat: Ismail Yusuf arrested for selling beef-stuffed samosas to his customers, the cows were slaughtered near the river. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Surat: Ismail Yusuf arrested for selling beef-stuffed samosas to his customers, the cows were slaughtered near the river. Read details

In the Surat district of Gujarat, a case has been registered against two persons for cow slaughter and sale of beef. According to a Divya Bhaskar report, Ismail Yusuf, who runs a snack shop in Kosadi village of Mangrol panchayat, sells samosas stuffed with beef. The police initiated action after receiving information about selling cow meat at the snack shop.

Police laid a trap to nab accused Ismail Yusuf after getting information that the accused will be passing by Mosali Chaar Rasta. Police stopped a suspicious auto rickshaw and searched it. Following the search, the police seized 2 Kg samosas and arrested Ismail Yusuf.

During the questioning, Ismail Yusuf admitted that used to buy cow meat from one Suleiman alias Sullu Salim Bheekhu and Nageen Vasava alias Simon Vasava to make beef-stuffed samosas. He also informed that Suleiman and Nageen slaughter cows near the Kosadi village river bank. Suleiman and Simon butchered cows on the river bank of Kosadi village, according to Ismail. The seized samosas were sent to the Regional Justice Assistant Science School in Surat for testing.

The FSL official’s certificate confirmed the presence of beef (cow meat) in the seized samosas. Following this, the Gujarat police registered an FIR and is taking further necessary action.

Hindus as ‘infidels’ and lies about hundreds of Muslim women being ‘trapped’ by Hindu men: 10 people booked by MP police for distributing hateful pamphlets

OpIndia Staff
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Hindus as ‘infidels’ and lies about hundreds of Muslim women being ‘trapped’ by Hindu men: 10 people booked by MP police for distributing hateful pamphlets

After the nationwide incidents of harassment of Hindu males by Muslims for befriending their co-religionist females, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed by the police in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city against ten people for allegedly disseminating offensive leaflets critical of the Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

According to Pritam Singh Thakur, the in-charge of the Raoji Bazar police station, a 45-year-old woman named Sharda Tiklia’s allegation served as the basis for the FIR. She reportedly travelled to the police station in Raoji Bazar with members of the Hindu organisation on 23 May.

She complained to the police that materials labelling Hindus as infidels had been distributed in the vicinity of Raoji Bazar, behind Kalalkui Masjid. The letters even spread fake news that RSS and Bajrang Dal destroy the honour of 10 lakh Muslim girls every year.

The official informed, “The case was registered against nearly 10 unidentified persons under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complaint stated that the pamphlets, which were distributed on the night of May 20, allegedly used objectionable words against the RSS and the Bajrang Dal.”

“The identity of the people who distributed the pamphlets is yet to be established. We are trying to identify the accused with the help of CCTV footage,” he added.

Another police officer claimed that the flyers, which were distributed against the backdrop of the religious conversion controversy, were intended for young ladies. He said that “Your brother in faith” is listed as the sender of the pamphlets’ open letter heading.

It started with a religious greeting and read, “The value of your faith is beyond the seven continents and seven skies. Your honour is more precious than the lives of the Muslims of the whole world. You are the pride of your father, you are the pride of your brother, you are the honour of your family, and you are not ordinary, but you are the princess of Islam. Infidels (RSS and Bajrang Dal) want to trample on the honour of 10 lakh Muslim girls by making them apostates every year.”

“More than 800 Muslim girls of Amravati city have become infidels. Through social media (Facebook, Instagram etc.), in school and college, you are framed on the pretext of friendship. Sister, don’t be your victim. Don’t get trapped in the saffron love trap. Don’t ruin your world and the hereafter by being greedy for false happiness, gifts and money for a few days. If you have done any mistake then come back, your brother is ready to help you. May Allah preserve your faith, honour and dignity.”

The location of where the pamphlets were printed and who printed them is still unknown, and the departments related to the police are also gathering information on this issue.

Tanu Sharma, the convenor of the Bajrang Dal branch in Indore, asserted, “Bajrang Dal has consistently exposed love jihad in Indore. The plans of Islamists have been ruined, thus these individuals now try to mislead the public by dispersing flyers about the Bajrang Dal and RSS.”

The organisation noted that if National Security Act was not imposed on those with such radical viewpoints, Bajrang Dal would respond to them in its own manner.

Days after coming to power, FIR filed against former BJP minister CN Ashwath Narayan for a remark made in February about Siddaramaiah: Details

ANI
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Days after coming to power, FIR filed against former BJP minister CN Ashwath Narayan for a remark made in February about Siddaramaiah: Details

Days after forming the government in the southern state, the Karnataka Congress has registered an FIR against former minister and BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan for his alleged statement to “finish off” Siddaramaiah like “Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda finished off Tipu Sultan”. 

A delegation of Congress leaders led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M Lakshmana and Mysuru District Congress Committee President B J Vijaykumar on Wedneday submitted a fresh complaint at Devaraja police station in Mysuru. The FIR has been registered under Sections 506 and 153 of the IPC. 

Earlier in February this year a complaint was filed by KPCC spokesperson at the Malleshwaram police station against Ashwath Narayan but no action was taken. 

While addressing a public event this February, the Karnataka minister had exhorted people to “finish off” Siddaramaiah the way the two Vokkaliga chieftains — Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda — had killed 17th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. Congress has maintained that the duo are fictional characters. 

Subsequently, Ashwath Narayan in a series of tweets said that he his remarks were casual allusions and not malicious. 

“Let me make my stand clear. The words used to compare Tipu Sultan and Siddaramaiah in Mandya are casual allusions and not malicious words. But my words are being misconstrued. It wasn’t meant to hurt anyone,” he tweeted. 

“Debate is an integral part of politics & essential for a healthy democracy. It is in this spirit that my words should be interpreted. It may be @siddaramaiah ‘s culture to be calling the Prime Minister a “mass murderer” and assailing the Chief Minister,” read his tweet. 

Ashwath Narayan further added that he had only mentioned that Congress should be defeated in the elections. 

“The people of the State are well aware of Siddaramaiah’s language proficiency. I was merely alluding to the fact that Congress should be defeated in this election. And, after all, our people of Mandya do not possess the brutal mentality of Tipu,” he had tweeted. 

To this Siddaramaiah had then stated that love and friendship cannot be expected from leaders of a party, which “worships the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi”.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Gyanvapi Masjid Committee’s bizarre claims in court: Aurangzeb was not cruel, did not demolish Vishwanath Temple, there is no Shiva Linga

OpIndia Staff
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Gyanvapi Masjid Committee’s bizarre claims in court: Aurangzeb was not cruel, did not demolish Vishwanath Temple, there is no Shiva Linga

On May 22, Gyanvapi Mosque Committee (Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee) submitted an application before the Varanasi Court opposing a plea filed by Hindu Worshippers seeking a complete survey of the disputed structure. In its application, the Mosque Committee made some bizarre claims to whitewash the atrocities of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. They claimed Aurangzeb was not cruel. Furthermore, they said he did not demolish any Lord Adi Vishweshar Temple in Varanasi.

Notably, Hindu Worshippers in a plea sought an ASI survey of the entire disputed structure. In the plea, they stated old Lord Adi Vishweshar Temple was attacked and destroyed by a Muslim invader. Later, Raja Tondal Mal restored the temple in 1580 AD at the same place.

The Mosque Committee further claimed that there was no concept of two Kashi Vishwanath Temples in the holy city. They also objected to the term “invaders” used by the Hindu Worshippers and called it an attempt to instigate hate among Hindus and Muslims.

The application read, “The structure or building which is present on the spot, Masjid Alamgiri / Gyanvapi Masjid, has been there for thousands of years, it was a mosque yesterday and is still a mosque, and the Muslims of Varanasi and neighbouring districts, as a matter of right, without any restrictions, have been offering Namaz Panjgana and Namaz Zuma and Namaz Idaan.” The committee further refused to accept that a Shiva Linga was found inside the premises. They stated that it was a fountain.

The committee has urged the court to reject the plea filed by the Hindu Worshipers for the survey of the entire disputed structure. Furthermore, they claimed that it was not permissible under the law that evidence to be collected via a scientific probe.

In April 2021, Civil Judge, Varanasi, passed an order to the ASI to survey the mosque. The Muslim side filed a plea against it in the Allahabad High Court. The matter is sub-judice and the court had reserved orders in both after hearing the arguments. The Mosque Committee said in such a situation, a survey done by ASI on the same property cannot be ordered.

On May 22, it was reported that the Muslim side filed an objection to the Hindu Worshippers’ demand for a complete survey of the disputed structure in Varanasi. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain representing Hindu Worshippers informed media that an application filed by the whole premises of the alleged mosque should be surveyed using Ground Penetrating Radar.

The court directed the Muslim side and UP Government to file objections by May 19. The applications were submitted and the next date of hearing was fixed on July 7.

Notably, on May 19, the Allahabad High Court permitted ASI to conduct carbon dating of Shiva Linga that was found during the survey in a disputed structure in Gyanvapi premises.

Auranzeb’s Farman to Destroy Lord Adi Vishweshar Temple

While the Mosque Committee claimed Aurangzeb did not destroy Lord Adi Vishweshar Temple, there is historic evidence of the same. In May 2022, OpIndia did a detailed report on the Farmans of Aurangzeb.

In 1669 CE, the ultimate assault on the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was carried out by the Mughal tyrant Aurangzeb. He demolished the temple and replaced it with the Gyanvapi masjid. The remains of the erstwhile mandir can still be seen in the foundation, the columns, and the rear part of the mosque.

The Kashi Vishwanath Temple complex, which stands today, is adjacent to the disputed mosque complex and where devotees can do puja and prayers, was built by the great Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780.

In fact, the Islamic record of Maasir-i-Alamgiri states that on April 9, 1669, Aurangzeb had issued a ‘Farman’ decree, “to governors of all the provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels and strongly put down their teachings and religious practices.”

The same is also mentioned in the Varanasi Gazetteer which was published in the year 1965. It is clearly stated on page number 57 that on April 9, 1669, Aurangzeb issued a decree to his governors to destroy the Hindu temples and schools in Kashi (Varanasi). The Kashi Vishwanath temple is just one of many similar temples destroyed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in his absolute disdain for Hindu culture and faith. The Islamic record of Maasir-i-Alamgiri describes many other instances of Aurangzeb’s fanatical cruelty.

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